Dorchester Co. Pushing for More AED Units in Public Spaces

(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – In Dorchester County. Local leadership is working to get more aid units installed in public areas across the county. Those range from athletic complexes to parks like Gerry Boyle here in Cambridge.”

AEDs , or Automated External Defibrillators are already in multiple county buildings across Dorchester.

But County Councilman, Mike Detmer says having these in more prominent places in the community is something he sees other counties already doing.

“It just makes perfect sense. A safety measure. Unfortunately, these things happen statistically, and I hope to get this county prepared for if they ever should,” says Detmer.

Dorchester County’s Department of Recreation and Parks has been working to install more of the devices specifically at athletic complexes.

Recreation and Parks Driector, Duc Trieu says, “It’s quick access for there’s a cardiac arrest for a participant. The aid machines can increase the chance of survival tremendously before EMS ambulance can arrive to help.”

The AED units are meant to be user-friendly, guiding people through pre-recorded instructions if they come across someone having a cardiac episode.

“Public safety is always a first priority for our facilities in Dorchester County. So having these AED machines is the first step in providing another and many for public safety for our youth and adult programs at the parks,” says Trieu.

Councilman Detmer tells WMDT there’s been a lot of support for the idea.

He says, “…The county recently authorized with me, the staff, to move forward with seeing how to make this plausible and how to implement it.”

Councilman Detmer says he hopes the county can get these AEDs into public areas like parks as soon as possible.